Partnered with the Southern Poverty Law Center in my research titled “Working But Not Employed,” which examines workers who are not protected by labor and employment laws, such as incarcerated and workfare workers.
Archives
Buffalo Humanities Festival
The Buffalo Humanities Festival is an annual fall celebration of ideas put on for the broad public of our city. UB’s Humanities Institute is the lead institution on this collaboration with SUNY Buffalo State, SUNY Fredonia, Niagara University, Canisius College, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Burchfield Penney Arts Center and Buffalo History Museum. We feature a nationally known speaker in the humanities and then develop a theme to bring together academics from UB and our partners to share cutting-edge and engaging research on this topic. Themes have included gender (2014) and migration (2015).
Buffalo Urban Development Corporation, Board of Directors
I have been a member of the Board of Directors for the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC) for over 10 years, during which time I have also served on the Audit and Finance Committee of BUDC. BUDC has completed Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park, developed Riverbend — which is now being built out as Solar City, initiated downtown projects and begun the Northland project on Buffalo’s east side.
LGBT Domestic Violence Committee of Western New York, Member (Board Service)
Serve as a volunteer member of the LGBT Domestic Violence Committee of Western New York. Mission is to promote community awareness of domestic violence among sexual minorities, identify unique barriers to service access and educate local providers about the unique needs of the LGBT community in order to enhance service provision.
43 North Mentor Program
The 43 North Mentor Program was created to optimize business success and quality of life for the competition’s finalists and their companies.
Buffalo Poverty Research Workshop
The Buffalo Poverty Research Workshops offer everyone concerned with Buffalo’s poverty the chance to hear about new and ongoing research, promising strategies and opportunities for collaboration. The workshop is designed for local scholars, social service agencies, advocates, and government leaders and staff, among others, and is always held in downtown Buffalo. The workshops have been held annually beginning in 2010. The co-organizers are UB Civic Engagement and Public Policy, the Homeless Alliance of Western New York, and the Partnership for the Public Good. Other sponsors have been involved in some years: the WNY Service Learning Coalition (2010-2013) and the National Center on Family Homelessness (2011). Community-based research by scholars–and also by community researchers, practitioners and policymakers–has been featured each year. Additional locations: Downtown Buffalo; Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Central Library; Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library; Olmsted Center for Sight; St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church Social Center
Ac2T Leadership Empowerment Program
UB Government and Community Relations offered a free leadership program that provided certified leadership training, mentorship and a $7,500 grant toward a community project to address a Fruit Belt concern about unification in the neighborhood. The program spanned eight leadership training sessions and more than 10 mentor-led sessions where 22 participants (out of more than 40 at the outset) progressed and graduated to found the community nonprofit known as the Orchard Community Initiative (OCI). Additional location: Downtown Campus